Foot soaking slipper

ABSTRACT

A device for soaking a single foot includes a container member made of a light weight and durable waterproof material and a removable insert having a sloped top surface for directing the flow of liquid to a targeted and isolated region of the user&#39;s foot, such as the toes. A flared lip allows the interior cavity of the container member to be filled with liquid through the top opening of the container member while the user&#39;s foot is received within the interior cavity. The removable insert is structured to cause pooling of the liquid in a targeted region of the user&#39;s foot. In one embodiment, the foot soaking device includes a heat insert for controllably heating the container member. For soaking the entire foot, the insert is removed to expose the bottom surface of the interior cavity. The container is sized and configured to receive a user&#39;s left or right foot.

This patent application is based on provisional patent application Ser.No. 61/793,017 filed on Mar. 15, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to foot soaking apparatuses and, moreparticularly, a foot soaking slipper configured for directing a flow ofliquid to a targeted region of a wearer's foot.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A number of foot-related medical conditions are commonly treated bysoaking the ailing foot in a medicated liquid or water. Generally, anindividual soaks his or her foot in an open-top, rectangular plasticcontainer or pan, which can be cumbersome to transport after beingfilled with the medicated liquid or water and can easily result inspillage. Moreover, the use of a plastic container does not permit auser to direct the liquid towards a targeted region of the user's foot.Certain foot-related medical conditions may only affect a particularregion of the foot, such as the toes, and it is desirable to only soakthe affected region of the foot in the medicated liquid or water.

The present invention seeks to address the shortcomings of presentlyavailable foot soaking apparatuses by providing an easily operable footsoaking slipper that reduces the need to soak the entire foot and limitsspillage. Specifically, the present invention uses a slipper made from awaterproof material and a removable insert having a sloped top surfacefor directing the flow of liquid to a targeted region of the user'sfoot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foot soaking slipper of the present invention includes a boot membermade from a light weight and durable waterproof material and a removableinsert having a sloped top surface for directing the flow of liquid to atargeted region of the user's foot, such as the toes. The interiorcavity of the boot member is filled with liquid through the liquiddrainage lip at the opening of the boot member. The sloped top surfaceof the removable insert allows for pooling of the liquid in a targetedregion of the user's foot. In one embodiment, the foot soaking slipperincludes a heat insert for controllably heating the boot member.Different sized boots may be manufactured for use to accommodatedifferent sizes of feet. For soaking the entire foot, the insert isremoved to expose the top sole surface of the interior cavity of theboot member and the boot member is filled with medicated liquid orwater. The boot member is sized and configured to accommodate a user'sleft or right foot.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a foot soaking slipper that permits soaking of atargeted region of the user's foot.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a footsoaking slipper that permits soaking of user's entire foot.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a footsoaking slipper that limits spillage of the liquid used for soaking theuser's foot.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are morereadily apparent with reference to the following detailed descriptionand the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the foot soaking slipper of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the foot soaking slipper of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the foot soaking slipper of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, shown in partial cross-section, ofthe foot soaking slipper of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the foot soaking slipper of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is an isolated perspective view of the heat insert.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring to the several views of the drawings, the foot soaking slipperof the present invention is shown and is generally indicated as 10.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5, the foot soaking slipper 10 includes aboot member 12 that is made from a liquid impervious and non-liquidabsorbent material, such as rubber, and is sized to receive a user'sfoot and, in one embodiment, the ankle and at least a portion of theuser's leg into interior cavity 14 through an opening 16. A removableinsert 18 is sized for engaged receipt within the boot 12 throughopening 16 and is made from a liquid impervious and non-liquid absorbentmaterial, such as rubber. Interior sidewalls 20 extending from opening16 surround the interior cavity 14 which is sized and configured forengaged receipt of a user's foot and at least a portion of a user'sankle. In one embodiment, the sidewalls 20 at opening 16 include a waterdrainage lip 22 extending outwards and providing space between theuser's ankle region and the sidewalls 20 for receiving water ormedicated liquid while the user is wearing the boot member 12 on his orher foot. A strap 24 on boot member 12 is provided for tightening thefoot soaking slipper 10 to the user's foot when fully inserted ininternal cavity 14 of boot member 12. A fastener 26, such as a hook andloop fastener, is provided for securing the strap 24 in the tightenedposition around a user's foot.

Referring to FIG. 4, the removable insert 18 has a bottom surface 28configured for congruently fitting against the top sole surface 30 ofsole member 31. The top surface 32 of the removable insert 18 is sloped,as shown in FIG. 4, for directing the flow of liquid in a targeteddirection for permitting a user to soak a specific portion of his or herfeet, such as the toe or heel region of the user's foot. In oneembodiment, the removable insert 18 is made from a liquid impervious andnon-liquid absorbent material.

To soak at least a portion of a user's foot, the user inserts his or herfoot into opening 16 and rests the bottom of the foot against the slopedtop surface 32 of the removable insert 18. A liquid, such as water, saltwater or other medicated liquid, may be directly poured into theinterior cavity 14 of the boot member 12 through water drainage lip 22and between the user's leg and sidewalls 20. Upon entering the interiorcavity 14, the liquid flows onto the sloped top surface 32 of the insert18 and is directed to the targeted area where the liquid settles, i.e.pools, around the targeted region of the foot, such as the user's toes.In one embodiment, the removable insert 18 may be reversed and insertedinto the interior cavity in the opposite direction to allow for poolingof liquid at an opposite facing region of the user's foot, such as theheel region of the user's foot. The boot member 12 may be used to soak auser's foot without a removable insert 18, which allows for evendistribution of liquid around the user's foot within the interior cavityof the boot member 12.

In order to soak the user's entire foot, the insert 18 is removed,thereby exposing the top sole surface 30 of the boot member 12, and theuser inserts his or her foot into the interior cavity 14 through opening16 and rests the bottom surface of the foot against the top sole surface30. The medicated liquid or water is then poured into the interiorcavity 14 through water drainage lip 22 for allowing the liquid tospread evenly around the user's foot. In one embodiment, the top solesurface 30 of boot member 12 is sloped for directing the flow of liquidin a targeted direction.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a preferred embodiment of the foot soakingslipper 10 includes a heat insert 34 for controllably heating the bootmember 12. The heat insert 34 is embedded in the boot member 12 beneathtop sole surface 30 and includes a heating pad 36, a control system 38and an electrically conductive wire 40 connecting the heating pad 36 tothe control system 38. The control system 38 includes a battery 42, aprinted circuit board (PCB) 44, a USB charger port 46, and an ON/OFFbutton 48. The ON/OFF button 48 extends outwards from the sole 31 ofboot member 12 for easy access by the user for activating anddeactivating the heating pad 36. The USB charger port 46 extendsoutwards from the sole 31 of boot member 12 and is accessible forrecharging battery 42. In one embodiment, the heat insert 34 is embeddedin sole member 31, with the USB charger port 46 and ON/OFF button 48being accessible from the outer surface of the boot member 12.

In one embodiment of the foot soaking slipper, as shown in FIGS. 1-5,the foot soaking slipper 10 includes a faux fur bottom component 50 anda faux fur top component 52 on boot member 12. While the faux furcomponents 50 and 52 are effective for insulating the boot member 12 andadding to the structural integrity of the boot member 12, othermaterials may be used in place of the faux fur for each of the bottomand top components 50 and 52.

While the present invention has been shown and described in accordancewith a preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures from theinstant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention which are not to be limited except as defined in thefollowing claims as interpreted under the Doctrine of Equivalents.

1. A foot soaking device for soaking a single foot of a user in aliquid, said foot soaking device comprising: a container member having asidewall extending from a base and surrounding an interior cavity thatis sized and configured to surround the user's foot, and said containermember having a top opening surrounded by a top edge of said sidewalland said top opening being sized for passage of the user's foottherethrough and into the interior cavity, and said container memberfurther including an outwardly flared lip extending from said top edgeand away from said top opening and defining an open spout that isstructured and disposed to allow the liquid to be poured therethroughand into the interior cavity while the user's foot is received in theinterior cavity; a removable insert having a bottom surface sized andconfigured for congruently fitting against the base of said containermember and said removable insert having a sloped top surface that isstructured and disposed for directing the flow of liquid towards the toeregion of the user's foot, and said removable insert being structuredand configured to cause the liquid to pool in the toe region; and saidremovable insert being sized and configured for passage through theopening of said container member and into the interior cavity.
 2. Thefoot soaking device as recited in claim 1 wherein the base of saidcontainer member is sloped for directing the flow of liquid towards atargeted and isolated region of the user's foot.
 3. (canceled) 4.(canceled)
 5. The foot soaking device as recited in claim 1 wherein saidcontainer member is made from a liquid impervious material.
 6. The footsoaking device as recited in claim 1 wherein said container member ismade from a non-liquid absorbent material.
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)9. The foot soaking device as recited in claim 1 wherein said containermember further comprises a heat insert, and said heat insert comprising:a heating pad; a heating control system including a rechargeablebattery, a circuit board, an ON/OFF button on said container member foractuating said heating pad, a charging port, and an electricallyconductive wire in connection with said heating pad; and said heatingpad being activated and deactivated by pressing the ON/OFF button onsaid container member.
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. (canceled) 13.(canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. The foot soaking device as recited inclaim 1 wherein said container member is sized and configured to receiveeither the left or right foot of a user.
 16. A foot soaking device forsoaking a single foot of a user in a liquid, said foot soaking devicecomprising: a container member having a sidewall extending from a baseand surrounding an interior cavity that is sized and configured tosurround the user's foot, and said container member having a top openingsurrounded by a top edge of said sidewall and said top opening beingsized for passage of the user's foot therethrough and into the interiorcavity, and said container member further including an outwardly flaredlip extending from said top edge and away from said top opening anddefining an open spout that is structured and disposed to allow theliquid to be poured therethrough and into the interior cavity while theuser's foot is received in the interior cavity; a heating system forheating the liquid in the interior cavity of the container member, andsaid heating system being selectively operable by the user; a removableinsert having a bottom surface sized and configured for fitting againstthe base of said container member and said removable insert having asloped top surface that is structured and disposed for directing theflow of liquid towards the toe region of the user's foot, and saidremovable insert being structured and configured to cause the liquid topool in the toe region; and said removable insert being sized andconfigured for passage through the opening of said container member andinto the interior cavity.
 17. The foot soaking device as recited inclaim 16 wherein the base of said container member is sloped fordirecting the flow of liquid towards a targeted and isolated region ofthe user's foot.
 18. (canceled)
 19. The foot soaking device as recitedin claim 16 wherein said heating system comprises: a heating pad; aheating control system including a rechargeable battery, a circuitboard, an ON/OFF button on said container member for actuating saidheating pad, a charging port, and an electrically conductive wire inconnection with said heating pad; and said heating pad being activatedand deactivated by pressing the ON/OFF button on said container member.20. (canceled)